POLICE in Greater Manchester received no reports of crashes involving e-scooters in 2020 – despite hundreds of them across Britain.

Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) suggest 460 e-scooter crashes caused 484 casualties last year, with one person killed.

But none of them were in Greater Manchester.

However, the DfT warned a lot of crashes might have been missed, as there is no obligation to report them to the police.

It is illegal to ride e-scooters in public outside official trials, which started last summer in more than 30 places including Rochdale and Salford, so some crashes might have happened in private.

Of the 484 casualties, 384 were e-scooter riders, including the person killed.

The other 100 casualties were cyclists (21), drivers (22) and pedestrians (57).

The majority of casualties whose age is known were at least 40 years old, including nine in the 70 and above age category.

Meanwhile, eight children in the 10 and under age category were also injured.

David Renard, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents councils, said: "The use of e-scooters on public highways and footpaths outside of designated trial areas is illegal.

"Councils and operators are working together in these trial areas to ensure that routes are safe for both users and other members of the public and thereby reduce the chance of injuries."

The Government said it has written to e-scooter retailers to remind them of their responsibility to inform customers of the law when selling e-scooters.

A DfT spokesperson said: "Safety will always be our top priority and the trials currently taking place in 31 regions across Britain are allowing us to better understand the benefits of e-scooters and their impact on public space.

"Evidence from the trials will allow government to consider how best to design future regulations and avoid the issues that other countries have faced."